Outside Gen Con, a punch in the street leads to a firestorm online

Follow IndyStar reporter Amy Bartner through the main floor of the expo hall at the Indiana Convention Center for a tour of the kickoff of the event (recorded from a live broadcast).
Stephen J. Beard, stephen.beard@indystar.com

A few punches thrown Downtown amid Gen Con has erupted into so much more on social media.

Jeremy Hambly, an outspoken gaming commentator whose social media posts regularly draw 50,000 viewers, says he was sucker punched about 1 a.m. Thursday outside Tin Roof tavern by a fellow Gen Con attendee who Hambly believes disagrees with his conservative-leaning YouTube videos. In his videos he has discussed topics such as how he believes feminists slant game reviews to suit their ideology and how comic books are portraying "culture wars."

Hambly, 35, sustained minor injuries. He posted on his "The Quartering" YouTube channel a witness describing the attack. The attack itself was not caught on video. No arrests were made by Friday afternoon.

Hambly, who described his attacker as wearing a white T-shirt with a rainbow flag, said in his post that he could have been killed over posting YouTube videos.

Dozens of other online commentators soon followed with their own YouTube videos. Many refer to the attacker as an “SJW,” or “social justice warrior,” a pejorative term for those who promote socially progressive views, including feminism, civil rights and multiculturalism. Some of the videos have just a handful of views. Others have thousands.

Hambly’s initial YouTube video detailing the incident has racked up at least 90,000 views and more than 4,600 comments. Its title: “Attacked at Gencon 2018, Cops Do Nothing …& I Have To Stay.”

Shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, hours after the video was posted, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a "delayed assault" by meeting Hambly at a Downtown hotel.

A representative of Gen Con said organizers of the gaming convention have received no requests for assistance by IMPD. "As always, we cooperate with local law enforcement," Gen Con said in a written statement provided to IndyStar. "For more than 50 years, Gen Con has provided a safe, welcoming environment for attendees.”

The four-day convention opened Thursday.

Hambly has not responded to interview requests by IndyStar.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department report, Hambly was on the patio at the Tin Roof, 36 S. Pennsylvania St., when a stranger asked, "Hey, are you Jeremy?"

"When Hambly responded yes, the suspect struck the victim in the head several times with a fist," according to the police report.

Hambly ran inside the bar. The suspect struck and broke one of the bar's windows then fled, the police report said.

Hambly suffered scrapes and bruises but no serious injuries.

In his video, Hambly says that a police officer took an initial statement.

IMPD told IndyStar Thursday afternoon they were unfamiliar with Hambly making a report at that time.

Hambly also said in his video that the bar was uncooperative and would not provide surveillance footage of the attack. A Tin Roof spokesman told IndyStar that there are no surveillance cameras outside the bar. The spokesman declined to comment on the incident itself.

On social media, Hambly asked his followers to help find the assailant. He later tweeted a photo of a man who he says matches the man's description.

Hambly's followers soon posted links to the man's LInkedIn page, Twitter account and a game store in Connecticut where he works. The Yelp page of the game store was flooded Friday with one-star reviews until the online feedback was frozen.

Danielle Kilgo, an associate professor at Indiana University Media School, said that within certain online communities, members become like family and defend one another.

But for the person accused, he said, the amplification of this activity could have very real-world consequences.

“It’s going to be devastating for that person,” Kilgo said, “and unfortunately we don’t have any way built into our legal system to really protect you from that unless somebody harms you.”

By Friday, the man identified by Hambly as his assailant made his Twitter page private. He did not respond to IndyStar's requests for comment. IndyStar is not identifying the man Hambly has identified because the man has not been charged with a crime.

A GoFundMe campaign, “Justice for Jeremy Hambly,” is raising money it says will be used to sue Hambly’s attacker in civil court. It was started by Ethan Van Sciver, a comic book artist who illustrated the book of Jordan Peterson, a men’s rights activist who recently visited Indianapolis.

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Teri Herron, with Different Drummer Belly Dancers, smiles while taking in the everything on opening day of Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Bob Mitchell, left, and Shane Snavley play the new game, KeyForge, while waiting for th start of on opening day of Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Michael Carr, left, and David Hoppe throw the big red dice to start on Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Carr has been at every Gen Con for 51 years. Hoppe is Gen Con President. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Heather Wickware, center, and Kendall Slone are ready to burst into the gaming room, before doors open on opening day of Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

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David Thompson, center, explains the new game, War Chest, to players Alexander Senetar, left, and John Richard, right, on opening day of Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Thompson is the designer of the game. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

A man gets his picture taken with a group of gamers wear large polyhedral dice on their heads on opening day of Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Michael Carr, left, and David Hoppe get ready to throw the big red dice to start on Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Carr has been at every Gen Con for 51 years. Hoppe is Gen Con President. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Michael Carr, left, and David Hoppe get ready to throw the big red dice to start on Gen Con 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Carr has been at every Gen Con for 51 years. Hoppe is Gen Con President. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar